College essays give you an opportunity to make your application stand out, but do your essays make you stand out in a negative way?

They might if they include these "red flags":

1. Generic “Why Us?” essaysIf a university asks why you want to attend their school and you write an essay that can be used for multiple schools, you did not do your job. This question implies that you should either visit the school or research it (website, videos, talk to former students, etc). Your response should be planned and thoughtfully consider how you’ll fit on their campus.

Admissions officers have stated that they sometimes receive essays that have another school’s name in it. “I’d love to go to Brown University because I think Harvard’s library is awe-inspiring., and I'm an avid reader. Face-palm.

Instead, look for specific details about the school AND why you like them. Instead of flattering the school, really envision yourself there. Perhaps you want to join the Mahjong club because you played with your grandma every Sunday, or maybe you’re excited to join the crew team because you want to challenge yourself to wake up early.

2. Overtly trying to impressI always laugh when someone sends me the satirical college essay by Hugh Gallagher who thought it was ridiculous that a college would request an essay on the accomplishments of someone barely 17. He initially wrote it for a writing competition but later said he sent it to colleges as a writing sample.

He starts with,

“I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees, I write award-winning operas, I manage time efficiently. Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row."

The essay continues to include more outlandish accomplishments (read full essay here) and concludes with,

“I have won bullfights in San Juan, cliff-diving competitions in Sri Lanka, and spelling bees at the Kremlin. I have played Hamlet, I have performed open-heart surgery, and I have spoken with Elvis.

But I have not yet gone to college.”

This brilliantly captures a predicament for college applicants: how can I impress admissions teams and make myself stand out and also still be a teenager?

The simple answer is to stop trying to impress them so much. Most of the college essay prompts request a personal narrative, a personal story. Most admissions teams are not expecting you to have cured cancer and have scaled Mount Everest (although you could probably have done both and still not get into Stanford; I kid, I kid). They are looking for an authentic, well-told story from your life that tells them something likeable about you. It’s your self-awareness and storytelling that really captures their attention. It’s the student who shows he’s trying to be a better friend rather than the student who writes about how he never leaves the library who is more likeable. Admissions counselors are not only looking for students who will perform well at their school, they’re looking for students who will make someone a nice roommate or who will contribute to the school culture in some way.

Let the rest of your application help you shine as an academic; use the essays to show aspects of your personality that the admissions team can get elsewhere on your application. Own who you are; be excited about who you are, and watch admissions teams feel the same way.

If you want to immediately send a message to admissions teams that you lack integrity, then have an adult write your essay for you.

Parents often think that admissions teams want you to impress them like the section above discusses. It’s readily apparent to anyone who’s reading your essay that an adult wrote it: it typically includes different syntax and diction than a 17-year-old would use.

Also, it’s quite easy to fall into the “too many cooks in the kitchen” trap. Only allow one or two people to give you an honest opinion of your essay to guide you. If you ask 5 people to edit it, the voice and style will be inconsistent, and it will sound like 5 people wrote it.

So, what do you do if your parents are trying to hijack your essay?

First, recognize that they are a) trying to help and b) want you to succeed; at the same time, recognize that a) it lacks integrity and b) it will cause disagreements.

It’s better to do it on your own, ask an English teacher or guidance counselor for help, or get coaching from a professional.

4. You’re a complainer I remember my guidance counselor told me that my college essay could be about why my grades dipped in my junior year. I wrote about how getting my learner’s permit coincided with my mom’s undiagnosed illness that prevented her from driving. I had missed a lot of school to take her to doctor’s appointments, and I had a hard time keeping up with chemistry and math. My focus was on being grateful to be able to help my mom and how I learned to juggle my home and school responsibilities.

Although you do have the opportunity to “explain,” make sure your essay’s purpose isn’t to “complain.”

Some students have written essays about switching schools and cite “bad teachers” or “not a good school” as their reason. It shows that you look for what’s wrong instead of what’s right; problems instead of solutions. A better focus would be on how felt the new school was a better fit for you and how the environment (and your appreciation for it) helped you to thrive.

One student spent half his essay discussing how bad his family member is at planning ahead and how it got them in a dangerous predicament. It came across as a 650-word complaint, and the reader learned nothing about the writer except that he finds his family member annoying. By switching his tone from complaining to appreciating the humor of the situation, the whole essay shifted in a positive direction.​

When you read through your essay, look for any times in which you put others down (even inadvertently), and revise it.Red flags stem from a lack of awareness of what admissions teams are truly looking for; quite simply, they want you to be yourself. Be authentic, lean toward positive interpretations, write the essay yourself, and really, don't try so hard, and you'll avoid these red flags.

​If you are considering graduate or law school after undergrad and are looking for some advice, you've come to the right blog post. And we commend you - it is truly best not to rush these decisions, or make them without fully understanding what you are getting into and, possibly more importantly, what you want to get out of it.Going back to school is a huge time and financial commitment.

Time. Please do not underestimate this: graduate or law school will take up tremendous amounts of time.The days of skimming the reading or studying the night before an exam will be long gone.Students will need to study at length and engage in the material to fully understand it.

Financial.Tuition is going to be a big number.And, yes, tuition rates will only continue to get higher.However, this is only one aspect of the financial situation.If you have undergrad loans, going back to school allows for payments to be deferred.However, the interest on that money continues to accumulate.The loans for graduate or law school loans may have even higher interest rates than undergrad loans.Lastly, many students that attend graduate school go full-time, thereby further delaying their earning.

With this brief but important backdrop, please take some time to consider the following questions.We hope they help you focus your thoughts and lead you to your determination.

1.Why do I want to go?

2.What is my goal or dream job?

3.What type of program or concentration is best for me?

4.How will this step help me achieve my goal(s)?

5.Should I right after undergrad or wait a year or two?

6.Do I need some job experience before going?

7.How will I pay the tuition and living expenses?

8.What, if anything, am I giving up?

9.Which schools have an active alumni network?

10.Do I really want to go back to school?

We at LAC wish you luck on your future endeavors, and - as always - never hesitate to contact us with any of your college prep or admissions needs!

Leonard Andrew Consulting is glad to showcase a tremendous non-profit out of Miami. Our Founder, Chad, and Juan Carlos Chediak Jr, the CEO of Motivation 4 Lyfe, have connected often over the last many months with a goal of continuing to bring the very best to student-athletes in Juan's local community and around the state of Florida. As mental health and wellness have become a larger focal point in today's world, Juan and Motivation 4 Lyfe have been working diligently for a tremendous cause: to raise awareness and gain support for those students and student-athletes that may be struggling with depression, anxiety, or any sort of mental health condition. We are exceptionally glad to stand behind this tremendous program, and look forward to helping as many students and student-athletes in the Miami area as possible.

The inspiration behind Motivation4Lyfe stems from Juan's own personal struggles as well as his family and friends’ distress from the fact that he was suffering.

From Juan:

"My goal is to raise awareness in the local community not just for those who struggle with depression, anxiety, or any sort of mental health condition, but especially for those who are not aware, do not understand, and truly do not know what one going through these issues feels or comprehends on a day to day basis. In order to help promote my nonprofit organization I also created a club basketball team that allows us to host as well as participate in events that give us the opportunity to not only raise awareness for our cause, but to genuinely help those who may be in need of assistance with whatever issue he or she may be going through.

My club basketball team is a dream come true. We’re working hard towards our dreams, raising awareness for a great cause, and doing it all in proper fashion. We have a God given group of guys ready to represent not only our cause, but themselves, and one another. I’m inspired every day to give it my all. The club team and myself are ready and willing to provide services to those in sixth grade and above, such as motivational speaking, or pep talks to allow people to open up about how they truly feel, or at least react and respond to what it is that is being presented for a good learning lesson. We will also introduce, and intergrade basketball into the presentation in terms of how it can change people’s lives for the better, maybe even the best. And this concept can be applied to any sport, or attribute of life if done correctly. Mental health is indeed a real concern, and topic of conversation that is not spoken of or incorporated enough in today’s society. We will conclude our presentations with brief summaries of the information previously shown, and will open up the floor for questions from our audience with kindness, respect, and moral character. Please give us the opportunity to help, and make a legitimate difference for the best in our community."

As you discuss where you’d like to apply to college, you should begin to create a list of potential options with your parents and guidance counselors.

This list will act as a guide for planning how many essays you’ll need to write.Schools with supplemental essays will often have prompts open-ended enough that if you plan ahead, you’ll be able to use the same essay (or a variation of it) for multiple schools. Therefore, it’s beneficial for you to plan ahead, as it will will save you time.Since well over 600 schools use the Common Application, it is highly likely that you will need to write a Common Application essay, which is a 650 word personal narrative based on your choice of 7 prompts.While there is no “right” time to begin this essay, the end of junior year or the summer before senior year is a good time to start brainstorming for and drafting your essay.Supplemental essays are often shorter than the Common Application or Coalition Application essays, and typically range from 100 to 500 words.A shorter essay does not mean that you will need less time to write it, however. Often, shorter essays can be more challenging to write as you need to get your point across concisely.Therefore, it makes sense to begin them only after you’re certain you will apply to that school or program. Again, planning ahead to see where you can use a variation of the same essay is a good idea.The best time to start your essay is when you have a stroke of inspiration. For many students, when they’re in a good-feeling place, an idea will pop into their minds, and the essay will almost write itself.In both my research and in my observations, stress is the #1 killer of great college essays ideas. Make time for yourself, and then work on your essays. In my experience, this is the most effective approach.Lastly, you’ll want to leave ample time to revise your essays. Senior year can be hectic, and you still want to have time to relax and have fun. Getting a head start on your college essays over the summer is a good idea. Use the fall of senior year to fine-tune your essays and to polish your applications!

Happy Writing!This blog was written by Jaclyn Corley, Founder of The College Essay Captain and digital course creator of College Essay Playbook. The College Essay Captain helps teens overcome their fears and limiting beliefs around writing college application essays, so they are free to authentically share their stories with admissions teams. You can connect with Jaclyn by clicking here.

What started as a simple idea, a few emails, and a brainstorming session has become one of the fastest growing educational consulting businesses in the US.

Along the way, we've connected and worked with over 500 individuals and families -- placing students and student-athletes at schools and on teams around the country.

Brick by brick, our team keeps growing, our reach keeps expanding, and the LAC name continues to develop:We've now worked with families in almost every state as well as 16 different countries.

We've fostered partnerships with schools, educational consultants, and higher education groups across the US as their go-to for student-athlete prep and for student branding. We've leaned into camps and combines, PR and marketing, nutrition and personal training.

And as we do each year at this time - in celebration - we do two things:

- Give thanks. To all of the students and families who have joined LAC, making us who we are today and who we are set to become, thank you so very much.

- Promise to keep going. We've worked to become an educational leader in college prep, to change the game, and re-write the playbook of athletic recruiting... this is STILL only the beginning and we're pumped to see what comes next!

We're concerned with the amount of college application essays we're getting from high school seniors (written specifically for the Common Application) that have been 'reviewed and revised' by English teachers and counselors... the limit of the essay is a maximum of 650 words. We're seeing almost half of the essays coming to us at much more than that!

The length limit will be enforced by the application form, and applications will not be able to attach an essay that goes over this word limit.

Make sure that your essay is good-to-go, well-written, and is something that you are proud to send along to your prospective colleges! Contact the team at LAC today, send us an email, and we'll get your writing from a 'good' essay to a 'great' essay!

​As a student athlete, you need to prepare for college as soon as you start high school. Work hard in the game, in the gym, and in the classroom, ask the right questions, and complete the NCAA Eligibility procedure. From there, be sure to keep these three tips in mind as you dive further into the process:

Grades — To be eligible to play sports at the college level, you'll NEED to get good grades in high school. Even in the word student-athlete, the STUDENT comes first. Improve your chances by having a high class rank and scoring well on the ACT or the SAT test. (And yes, you'll qualify for more student aid and scholarships as well!).

Contact — Opposite of what pop culture wants you to believe, college coaches will NOT be knocking on the door of your family's home. It's up to YOU to reach out to them...keep in mind as well that there are SO many athletes competing in your sport that you'll need to find additional ways - like this contact - to separate yourself. Contact some college coaches and invite them to come observe you in a game, camp, or showcase.

Do Research — Depending on your sport and desired level of play, there will be a varied number of colleges from which you can choose. Narrow down your decision by looking at everything each school (not just athletics!). Look at the 'big picture' of what each school offers you - academics, athletics, social opportunities, location, and even financial aid and scholarship potential.

Questions on the college admissions process for student-athletes? Do not hesitate to contact us today!

High school seniors: being prepared, organized, and having a game-plan will allow you to lessen your stress about college applications! Here are a few things to consider with your college admissions prep as we head into the end of September:

The Applications: You may have your college list set, or at least know of a few schools that you're definitely interested in applying to. For those schools that you have good feelings about, take some time to familiarize yourself with the application that they utilize (be it the Common App, Coalition App, or perhaps an independent variation of their own application). Familiarize yourself with the program and the set-up. Once you have a grasp of what you're being asked, and how the application is structed, in time you'll find the apps pretty easy to use and navigate. Have you started filling in the biographical information? Start now if you can! Beginning the process seemingly a bit early, will have you more prepared, give you a better understanding of requirements, and will grant you the time to review things prior to submission.

The Essay. Do you know the writing prompts that are being offered this year? If not, definitely review those and have an understanding of how you would best respond to each option. If you've narrowed the selection down to two or three of the choices, you can write a few notes and thoughts for yourself on each one on (1) why you'd choose that option, and then (2) a starting point for each. Oftentimes when students brainstorm that way they are able to pinpoint which essay makes the most sense for them. When all is said-and-done, aim to have written about three or four renditions of the piece before you process the final version for application.

Letters of Recommendation. Remember to let those individuals who you want to be writing you letters of recommendation for you to know as such. Your school may already have a set plan in place given your Math or English teachers, but give advance notice to those individuals outside of school -- club leaders, coaches, etc. It gives them ample time to put together a really thoughtful piece on you, showcasing you best, without being rushed.

Questions on any part of the college admissions or application process? Do not hesitate to contact us today!

​It's a question that we often hear this time of year as school starts back up again, and students - even though only just starting their third year of high school - begin looking to what comes next.

Junior year is the crux of the process in terms of (1) grades, and (2) the real, solidified steps into college preparations.

If you haven't yet, we ask that students begin to pull together their resume. This could be a list or a journal (it certainly does not have to be formal), but it should be something for you to begin listing your abilities, your work, your passions, any volunteering. This also serves as a map of sorts when it comes to looking at what you want to focus on in the next year or so... an internship? A different job? An art class outside of the regular school day?

Then, create a separate log or list will begin to draft what you are - at least initially - looking for in a college or university. What will you want to study? Where may you want to be? How does your character begin to line up with your preferences?

Learning about colleges is a basic step as well, but not simply looking at websites and marketing materials. We urge students to chat with students who are currently in college (family members, co-workers, etc) to get their authentic feel for how college life is for them. Review with teachers, guidance counselors, and ask a LOT of questions. In the fall, students can also consider taking an informal (self-guided) tour of a campus. Walking a local campus - even one that you may have limited interest in - helps in shaping just what you are looking for when it comes to a school you'll have a high level of interest in. You'll know what to look for, what to ask, the pros and cons of each in moving forward.

Check in with your high school in the first few weeks back from the summer -- will they be hosting a college night? A college fair? Will college reps be visiting?

The PSAT will be in October. Make sure that you have been formally registered. Do your very best, but know that while it is a good step towards standardized testing, it really has no bearing on how you'll do on the SAT/ACT.

Lastly, know that it's never to early to begin estimate any financial aid need. A terrific resource is the College Board’s "Getting Financial Aid" as well as their financial aid calculator .

Let Leonard Andrew Consulting know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns with any of this! If we can help you in any way let us know. You can send us an email by clicking here.

Have you ever been excited to start a project, and then you lost momentum half-way through?Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by how much work needs to get done? Do you find yourself procrastinating?If so, you're not alone. This happens to pretty much everyone. With the school year - and then the college application for high school juniors and seniors - just around the corner, it's easy to feel motivated in the beginning of the process and then cave in to your limiting inner dialogue: I don't feel like filling out that application today. Do you think I can skip the college fair? I have HOW MANY essays to write!?If you're in the last leg of the college application process, and you want to stay steady toward the finish line instead of trailing off, you'll want to pay close attention to your mindset. I'm a mindset and writing strategy coach for college applicants, and I discovered that applicants who developed and maintained focused, positive attitudes during the application process were more likely to get into their top choice schools. Why? They wrote better essays, they performed better in school, and they were able to focus and send in their best work. I want to share five of the most effective mindset strategies you can start using now. They will help you stay on top of your game during the college application process, and they will help you navigate past the times you lose momentum, feel overwhelmed, or find yourself procrastinating.

1) Set an IntentionIn your ideal world, how do you want the college application process to go for you? Do you want it to be stressful, overwhelming, and frustrating? Or, do you want it to be easy and enjoyable?That might seem like an obvious choice, but most applicants don't choose how they want the application to process to be for them. They listen to others talk about how hard and time consuming the application process is, or they observe their friends vent about how much pressure they're under, and then they believe that's just how it is. Take a moment right now to consider how you want to feel during the application process. Set that as your intention. "I want to feel [insert positive emotion here] as I apply to college." Setting an intention guides you to direct your focus, and your focus creates your experience. Think about it. Your brain has millions of bits of information it can focus on in any given moment. Your mind is deleting most of those pieces of information, and it is aware of the few pieces that it's focused on.Try this: Notice the pace of your breathing. Now, notice how your clothes feel on your body. It's likely you weren't focused on how fast you're breathing or how your clothes feel on your skin until you read this sentence.What changed? I redirected your focus. In the same way, you can look around right now and locate a few things you don't really like or you can look for a few things that bring you joy. What you see is directly related to what you're looking for. With this in mind, begin to draw attention to how you're presenting the college application process to yourself. Here are a few strategies:

Instead of saying, "I have to write these essays. I need to get them done," rephrase that to "I get to write essays that will help admissions get to know me better! I get another way to show them that I'm a perfect choice for their school!" This shift in your focus will change how you feel about your essays, and when you feel better, you'll write better.

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by your applications, notice where your focus is. Is it on how much you have to get done? If so, redirect your focus to how much progress you've made or on ways you can make the process simpler by managing your time or by rewarding yourself with a Netflix episode when you're done.

Before you begin any part of the application, set your intention for how you'd like it go, and watch how much easier it will be.

2) VisualizeDo you know what worry is?It's you imagining possible "worst-case" scenarios in your head. Then, your body responds to those scenarios as though they're real. It's you using your imagination.However, it's you using your imagination in a way that's disempowering. Your subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between a perceived threat and a real one; that's why many people experience anxiety. Their body goes into fight-or-flight mode over the perceived threat in their mind. You can also use your imagination to create possible scenarios of thing going right. This is called visualization. It's what the top athletes in the world use to help them win: they spend time imagining themselves winning, scoring a goal, or landing the shot.In short, visualization is creating a mental image of a future event.Why is visualization so powerful? Visualization causes your brain to create neural pathways or "road maps" in your mind as though you've already completed the action you're visualizing. So, just like your brain can't tell the difference between an imagined threat or a real one, your brain can't tell the difference between an imagined experience or a real one. Use this to your advantage! Here are some ways to use visualization:

Mentally rehearse what it would look like and feel like to receive acceptance letters from your top choice schools. Spend time creating a mental picture of this. Where are you? What do you say? Who's with you? What does the letter say? Feel it in your body as though it already happened.

Imagine what it will feel like to write application essays that you feel inspired to write. Imagine yourself sitting down to write and the ideas flowing through you easily. Imagine writing essays that win you scholarship money.

Write down your goals and your ideal version of how the application process will go for you. Write down what you want to happen in great detail. Use imagery in your description. This is similar to setting an intention.

Visualization is something you can do at any time to help you feel better. So, if you find yourself feeling confused, visualize what it would look like and feel like if this came easily to you. Your brain will create the pathways to make it easier.

3) Get OrganizedThe college application process takes planning since it's often in addition to your regular school work and activities. Get a calendar, and put it in a place you'll see every day or make it a habit to check it. Plan to have a lot of tasks to complete, forms to fill out, conversations to have, and remember that being busy does not mean you need to be stressed. Get yourself organized, and set an intention that you'll stay organized and focused throughout the process. You can even write your intention in your calendar as a daily reminder. So, what's the benefit of organizing your time? Organization is good for the mind. Being organized can reduce stress and improve your productivity, which both come in handy when you're doing something as important as applying to college. Once you get into the habit of sticking to your calendar, you'll find yourself procrastinating less and it will help you to gain momentum. Here are some ways to get yourself organized:

Discuss with your family what the best plan of action is for your applications. When will you go to college fairs? When will you visit campuses? When will you set out time to write your application and scholarship essays?

Keep in mind that you've never had to write college application essays before. You need to learn how to write them, apply what you've learned, and give yourself permission to not be an expert at writing them at first. Add in plenty of time for writing multiple drafts, trying something new, and for revisions.

Clean your room, tidy your work space, and make your bed. If your personal space is cluttered, it's easier for your mind to feel cluttered as well since there's a lot more to focus on and be distracted by. And, researchers found that people got a better quality of sleep when they made their beds. Any little bit of sleep helps, right?

Give yourself enough time to review and revise your applications before you submit them, so when you're organizing your calendar, plan accordingly.

4) Start with the End in MindOne of the strategies teachers learn when they study teaching is a concept called "backwards planning."This is how it works: when teachers start planning lessons, they think of what they want their students to know or be able to do at the end of the lesson or unit, then they figure out the steps that will help them achieve that result. They start with the end in mind. I use this method when I coach applicants writing their college essays. I ask them to get clear on their end result, or what they wanted admissions officers reading their essay to take away from it. This prevents them from writing pieces that don't have a point or a direction. This shift in your thinking can make a world of difference. Keep your end goal in mind so you don't waste time completing unnecessary tasks that will leave you frustrated. If you're having a difficult time figuring out your topic or angle, use this method.

Write down a few aspects of your personality (preferably ones that admissions officers can't get elsewhere from your application), and then write down a few moments in your life where you displayed all those qualities at once. This will help you uncover stories that are purposeful.

You can also use this strategy when you're attending college fairs or doing a campus visit.

What do you want to take away from the fair? Do you want to meet five representatives? Do you want to narrow down your list of schools? Do you want to learn about scholarship opportunities?

What about your campus visit? Do you want to meet a few people? Discover a hidden place to eat? Sit in on a class?

Figure out your purpose and direction, and it will help you feel accomplished.

5) Take Inspired ActionDid you ever notice that your brilliant ideas come to you while you're in the shower or right before you're about to fall asleep? There's a reason for that. At those moments, you're not resistant. You're a little more relaxed. In this state of mind, ideas can flow to you easily. This tip will help you tremendously with your college essays.Here's what to do when you get a stroke of genius:

When an idea pops into your mind, write it down, or put pen to paper, fingers to laptop...when your brilliance shows up, don't save it for later. Be open and prepared for it. Carry a journal with you, and write them down before you forget what you were thinking.

Instead of trying to force yourself to write your application essays, wait for inspired ideas. Set an intention that they will come to you easily. I've found that students who write essays that they felt inspired to write have a much easier time writing them, write them more quickly, and feel more confident when they submit them.

Additionally, taking inspired action means doing things as they pop into your mind. Your mind is like an inner filing system with alarms set up to go off. When those reminders go off, take care of them. For example, if your brain reminds you to send an email to your guidance counselor, do it immediately. Also, listen to your gut instincts. If a college essay topic doesn't feel right to you, or if you got a weird vibe while visiting a particular campus, listen to that. It's the equivalent of inspired action. Make your mindset an important piece of the application process, and set yourself up for success!

Happy Writing!This blog was written by Jaclyn Corley, Founder of The College Essay Captain and digital course creator of College Essay Playbook. The College Essay Captain helps teens overcome their fears and limiting beliefs around writing college application essays, so they are free to authentically share their stories with admissions teams. You can connect with Jaclyn by clicking here.